Golf club handle



Oct. 4, 1960 P. M. GElST GOLF CLUB HANDLE Filed June 24, 1955 ?tin? FlG.

IN V EN T OR.

United States Patent O GOLF CLUB HANDLE Paul M. Geist, 26 Old Oaks Road,Bridgeport 4, Con.

Filed June 24, 1955, Ser. No. 517,785

16 Claims. (Cl. 73-379) The present invention relates to sporting goods,and particularly to a new and improved hand-grip for clubs and the like.

The ability to hit a golf ball correctly is one of the most aggravatingproblems encountered by the average amateur. Many books have beenwritten on the subject. They invariably attempt to teach the propergrip, the proper swing, and the proper stance to assume preparatory tohitting a golf ball. In spite of such literature, great diiculty isexperienced by the average amateur in attaining any degree of perfectionin hitting a golf ball.

It is believed that a very important consideration in the proper hittingof a golf ball resides in the pressure exerted throughout the swingingaction by the hands in gripping the golf club. Most of the books referto the grip as being firm but relaxed. These two words arecontradictory, since tha-t which is firm is not relaxed, and that whichis relaxed is not firm. Furthermore, the books refer to the fact that agood golf Swing can only be efiected if the body is relaxed, and thatthe body can be relaxed only when the hands are relaxed.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a grip for aclub that is responsive to the pressure applied to the grip by the handsof the user during the swinging action thereof.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a golf grip thatembodies pressure-sensitive means in combination withpressu-re-indicating means; the provision of such a golf grip in whichthe golf grip` embodies pressure-sensitive means in combination withpressurerecording means; the provision of such a golf grip embodyingpressure-sensitive means for each hand in combination with separatepressure-indicating means for each hand; and the provision of such agolf club grip embodying pressure-sensitive means in combination withseparate pressure-recording means for each hand whereby individualpressure-graphs can be made of each of the golfers hands during theswinging of the golf club.

The above, as well as other objects and novel features of the inventionWill become apparent from the following specification and accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged partial sectional elevational view of a golfclub grip embodying the principle of the present invention and takensubstantially along line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the golf club grip of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a developed view of a grip element adapted to be spirallywound about the golf club shaft of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. l, the invention isshown as applied to the grip end of a golf club shaft S and comprises aspirally-wound, pressure-sensitive frictional grip member G. A springmotor device M is mounted at the upper end of the shaft S and isadapted, during operation, to turn through 180 in the usual timerequired to make a golf stroke. This time 2,954,697 Patented Oct. 4,1960 element varies, but is in the neighborhood of three to fiveseconds. A pair of bellows B including Stylus means is stationarilymounted at the end of the golf club grip for cooperation with a chartadapted removably to be attached to the spring motor device M. Aspring-pressed releasing mechanism R is provided at the top of the shaftS adjacent the spring motor device M and is adapted to be employed torelease the spring motor device M when the user is about to swing thegolf club to hit a golf ball.

Referring to Fig. 3, the grip G comprises a section of friction material11, preferably of rubber, and having a relatively rough frictional outersurface. In order to provide a pressure-sensitive means embodied withinthe grip G, elongated grooves 12 and 13 are provided in the back orinner surface 13' thereof (Fig. 4), and in which are laid tubularelements 14 and 15 that are preferably made of a plastic material sothat they will transmit forces through liquid confined within them,without sustaining any substantial distortion of the tubular membersthemselves.

The longitudinal sp acing of the tubular members 14 and 15 relatively toeach other is such that when the member 11 is spirally wound about theshaft 10, a space exists along the shaft 10 wherein neither of thetubular members 14 and 15 is elfective. This non-pressure responsivespace is located at the point along the shaft S where the hands normallyoverlap, and is necessary in order tha-t the pressure exerted by theright hand does not influence the recording of the pressure exerted bythe left hand and vice versa. The member 11 is spirally wound about theshaft 10 to the point where the groove 12 stops, and the free end of thetube 14 is passed inwardly of the hollow shaft 10 through a hole 16within the shaft side wall. It then extends upwardly through the centerof the tubular shaft 10 to the top thereof. Likewise, When the member 11is completely wound about the shaft 10, the free end of the tubularelement 15 passes through another hole 17 in the side wall of the shaftS and extends upwardly through the center thereof, all for a purpose tobe described later. While the tubular elements 14 and 15 have been shown`as applied to the inner surface of the strip 11, they could with equalfacility be spiraled about the outer surface of the grip G after it hasbeen applied to the shaft S. In fact, such grips usually provide aspiral channel between adjacent convolutions which would serve toreceive and locate the tubular elements 14 and 15. The spring motordevice M may comprise any one of a number of such devices that arecommercially available. In the present disclosure, it will be shown anddescribed as mounted on a plug element 18 that is frictionally pressedinto the end of the tubular shaft 10. The plug 18 includes an annularring member 19 that abuts against a Washer 20 fixed to the top of theshaft 10.

A drum member 21 is journaled on the outer periphery of the plug 18 andincludes a skirt portion 22 that extends downwardly, and is providedwith an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter ofthe grip G. A torsion spring 23 is mounted within a space`23' formed'between the Washer 20 and the skirted drum 21.

The outer peripheral end of the torsion spring 23 -is brazed to theskirt 22, while the inner end thereof is fixed to the shaft 10 or theplug 18. A plate member 24 is fixed against rotation relatively to thetop of the plug 18, and a screw 25 is threaded into a threaded hole 26that extends centrally through the plug 18. A Washer 27 is locatedbetween the head of the screw 25 and the plate 24. Accordingly, anadjustable frictional force is developed between the rotatable drum 21and the top of the annular member 19, as well as between the drum 21 andthe lower surface of the plate 24. This adjust- 'will be recorded inhitting the golf ball.

'able frictional force Controls the rate at which the drum 21 can rotateunder the influence of the torsion spring 23. By turning the screw 25,this frictional force may be adjusted one way or the other due to theaction of a compression spring 28 that is. located within a recesscentrally of the plug 18 and acting ou the plug 18 and the lower surfaceof the plate 24. If desired, a nonmetallic Washer may be located betweenthe frictional surfaces in order to ensure smooth action of the drum 21.Furthermore, a pinion gear assembly controlled by the torsion spring 23,may be employed in place of the 'adjustable friction-providing means.

In order to limit the rotary motion of the drum 21 to 180, a stop 29 isfixed to the inner periphery of the skirt 22. 'Ihe stop 29 is adapted tocooperate with the releasing mechanism R which latter comprises a spring'finger 30 that is pvoted to the shaft by a screw 31.

The finger 30 is provided with an, engaging button 32.

`The construction and arrangement of the parts are such that when thegolf club is normally gripped by a user, the button 32 rests beneath thelittle finger of the left hand for a right-hand golfer. This spring 30is provided with a stop 33 located 180 from the stop 29 so that uponrelease of the drum 21, the stop 29 will be aligned with the stop 33.

The drum skirt 22 is provided with a notch 34 180 from the'abutment '29,and into which the stop 33 is adapted resiliently to be held when thedrum 21 is in cocked or wound position. In order to adjust the springmotor device M so that the spring 23 will be at the proper torsion, thebutton 32 is adaptedto be pulled leftwardly (Fig. 1) so that the stop 33will clear the notch 34 whereupon any number of revolutions of the drum21 may be eifected to provide the degree of torsion necessary in thespring 23. Release of button 32 causes stop 33 to cooperate with notch34 to hold the drum 21 cocked. Pressing the button 32 inwardly merelycauses the drum 21 to rotate 180 until the abutment 29 engages theabutment 33 whereupon the drum 21 can be .rotated in a reverse directionto re-cock the spring motor device M.

In order to record the pressure variations exerted by the user duringthe swinging of the club, separate pressure-responsive bellows 35 and 36are rigidly mounted on the top of the plate 24 by L-shaped bracketmembers 37 and 38. The one end of each of the bellows 35 and 36 isconnected to the pressure tubes 14 and 15, and the oppo'site end of eachbellows is' provided with a stylus 39 and 40, respectiyely. Anannular-shaped graph paper 41 having a split 42 is adapted to encirclethe top of the drum 21 and to be ;held thereon by any simple frictionalmeans.

The tubes 14 and 15, as well as the bellows 35 and 36,

are filled with liquid prior to the assembly of the device, y and it isquite evident that the squeezing of the grip G will cause the pressureof each hand to be transmitted through the pressure liquid within thetubes 14 and to cause the bellows 35 and 36 to be extended or contractedwhile the chart 41 is being rotated through 180. In this way, apressure-graph of each hand of the golfer Accordingly, it will bepossible to analyze the pressure applied to the golf club grip by eitherhand at any point during the swinging thereof.

Although the various features of the improved grip for a golf club andthe like have been shown and described in detail to fully disclose oneembodiment of the invention, it will be evident that numerous changesmay be made in such details, and certain features may be used withoutothers without departing from the principles of 'the invention.

hand grip thereof as the club is swung, comprisng a shaft; a pressureresponsive grip attached to said said shaft and having a configurationsubstantially identical to the normal grip of said club; means forindicating pressure variations applied to said grip by a user throughoutthe normal swinging of said club; and pressure transmitting meansconnecting said pressure responsive 'grip to said indicating means.

2. An athletic club or the like, comprising a shaft; a grip attached tosaid shaft and having a configuratior substantially identical to thenormal grip of said club; means in said grip responsive to a pressureapplied thereto by a user during a normal swinging of the club; andmeans mounted on said shaft and connected to said pressure responsivemeans for indicating the pressure applied to said grip.

3. An athletic club or the like, comprising a shaft; a grip attached tosaid shaft and having a configuration substantially identical to thenormal grip of said club; separate means in said grip responsive to thepressure applied by each hand of a user during a normal swinging `ing ofthe club; and separate means mounted o'n said shaft and connected bypressure transmtting means to said separate means in said grip forindicating pressure variations applied to said grip by the separatehands of a user.

5. A golf club or the like, comprising a shaft; a grip attached to saidshaft and having a configuration substantially identical to the normalgrip of said club; separate means 'in said grip responsive to thepressure applied thereto by the separate hands of a user during a normalswinging of the club; and separate means mounted on said shaft andconnected to said corresponding separate pressure responsive means forrecording the individual pressures of each hand applied to said grip.

6. In a golf club or the like, a shaft; a pressure-responsive gripattached to said shaft; a rotary drum mounted on the top of said shaft;pressure-responsive recording means mounted on said shaft and connectedto said pressure-responsive grip; and' means for rotating said drum,whereby pressure applied to said pressure-responsive grip will causesaid pressure-recording means to form a graph while said drum isrotated. 4

7. In a golf club or the like, a shaft; a pressure-responsive gripattached to said shaft; a rotary drum on the top of said shaft;pressure-responsive recording means mounted on said shaft and connectedto said pressureresponsive grip; and a spring motor device for rotatingsaid drum, whereby pressure applied to said pressureresponsive grip willcause said pressure-recording means to form a graph while said drum isrotated.

8. In a golf club or the like, a shaft; a pressure-respon- 'sive gripattached to said shaft; a rotary drum mounted on the top of said shaft;means for adjusting the rate of rotation of said drum;pressure-responsive recording means mounted on said shaft and connectedto said pressure-responsive grip; and means for rotating said drum,whereby pressure applied to said pressure-responsive grip will causesaid pressure-recording means to form a graph while said drum isrotated.

9. In a golf club or the like, a shaft; a pressure-responsive gripattached to said shaft; a rotary drum mounted on the top of said shaft;velocity limiting means adapted to cooperate with said rotatable drum;pressure-responsive recording means mounted on said shaft and connectedto saidpressure-responsive grip; and means for rotating said drum, theConstruction and arrangement of the parts being such that said velocitylimiting means is adapted to cause said drum to be rotated l80 duringthe normal time required to swing a golf club, whereby pressure appliedto said pressure-responsive grip will cause said pressure-recordingmeans to form a graph while said drum is rotated.

10. In a golf club or the like, a shaft; a pressure-responsive gripattached to said shaft; a rotatable means mounted on the top of saidshaft and adapted to support a chart; pressure-responsive recordingmeans mounted on said shaft and connected to said pressure-responsivegrip; a spring motor device for rotating said drum; and velocitylimiting means adapted to cooperate With said spring motor means tocause said rotatable means to rotate a predetermined amount during thenormal time it takes to Swing a golf club, whereby pressure applied tosaid pressure-Iesponsive grip while said golf club is swung Will causesaid pressure-recording means to form a graph while said drum isrotated.

11. A golf club or the like, comprising in combination, a shaft; a gripfor said club; tubular means containing a liqu'd arranged in intimatecontact With said grip, extending over a substantial length thereof andarranged in a manner to preserve substantially the normal configurationof said grip; pressure-indicating means connected to said tubular means;and means for supporting said pressure-indicating means While said golfclub is swung during the hitting of a golf ball.

1 2. A golf club or the like, comprising in combination, a hollow shaft;a grip attached to said shajt; tubular means adapted to contain liquidarranged in intimate contact with said grip and covering a substantialarea thereof, said tubular means extending through the side Wall to theinterior of said hollow shaft and to the top thereof; andpressure-indicating means mounted on the top of said shaft and connectedto said tubular means, whereby pressure applied to said grip during thenormal use of said club Will be indicated on said pressureindicatingmeans.

13. A golf club or the like, comprising in combination, a hollow shaft;a grip attached to said shaft; separate tubular means in intimatecontact With said grip and spaced longitudinally thereof, each adaptedto contain a G liqud and arranged in a manner to preserve substantiallythe normal configuration of said grip; and separate means connected toeach of said tubular means for indicating the pressure applied by eachhand of the user during the normal swinging of said club.

14 A golf club or the like, comprsng in combination, a hollow shaft; agrip attached to said shaft; separate tubular means intimatelyassociated with said grip and spaced longitudinally thereof; andseparate means mounted on the top of said shaft and connected to saidseparate tubular means for indicating the pressure variations applied tosaid grip by the separate hands of a user during the normal swinging ofsaid club.

15. A golf club or the like, comprising in combination, a tubular shaft;a grip attached to said shaft; separate tubular means intimatelyassociated with said grip and spaced longitudinally thereof, each ofsaid separate means being adapted to contain a liquid; and separatemeans mounted on the top of said shaft for recording the individualpressure of each hand of a user as appled to the grip during the normalswinging of said club.

16. In a golf club or the like, a tubular shaft; a grip attached to saidshaft; tubular means in intimate association with said grip :andcovering a substantial area thereof; a rotary drum mounted on the top ofsaid shafit;

pressure-responsive recording means mounted on the top:

of said shaft and connected to said liquid-supporting tubular means; andmeans for rotating said drum, whereby pressure applied to said grip willcause said pressurerecording means to form a graph while said drum isrotated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

